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Missoula County approves one-year extension for Frenchtown Little League grant
Summary
The Missoula County Board of County Commissioners approved an amendment extending the closeout date for a $515,775 community parks grant awarded to Frenchtown Little League from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026, after staff said the group completed roughly half of planned improvements and faced unexpected site conditions.
Missoula County commissioners on Feb. 6 approved an amendment extending the closeout date for a $515,775 Missoula County Community Parks and Recreation Grants Program award to Frenchtown Little League.
Bethany Gunther, staff member, told the commissioners the grant — part of the 2024 grants cycle — was applied to improvements at Frenchtown Baseball Fields on shared school grounds and originally carried a closeout date of June 30, 2025. "To date, Frenchtown Little League has completed about half of the improvements," Gunther said, adding that unforeseen conditions left dugouts and storage sheds in worse condition than expected.
The county staff presentation said the league completed the batting cages and shed rebuilds but was unable to salvage elements of the dugouts and storage buildings, which delayed work. "This group isn't requesting more money, they're just requesting more time to complete their projects with a new grant closeout date of 06/30/2026," Gunther said.
Gunther described the fields as the only nearby open space for Frenchtown residents and noted other local groups — youth football, soccer teams, school groups and cross-country skiers — use the site.
A commissioner moved that the board approve the FY '24 community parks and recreation grants contract amendment; another commissioner seconded the motion. After brief discussion and public comment, the board voiced its approval. The recorded oral vote was "All in favor" with aye responses; no roll-call vote with individual tallies was provided in the transcript.
The amendment changes only the contract closeout date; no additional funding was requested or approved at the meeting. The new closeout deadline is June 30, 2026.
Supporters at the meeting praised the project as an investment in a community open space that serves multiple youth and school programs. County staff and commissioners did not identify further conditions or reporting requirements tied to the extension during the discussion.
Details not specified in the meeting transcript include any updated project schedule, contractor names, or a revised list of remaining work items beyond the dugouts and natural trail reconstruction.
